Disciplinary Overview

In most cases, the Disciplinary Process begins when a player is shown a red card, or their second yellow card, during a match resulting from foul play. These disciplinary issues fall under World Rugby Regulation 17. Following the match, the match official will submit a Discipline Report via the Texas Rugby Union’s website by 5pm on Sunday for matches occurring on Saturday or within 48 hours of the conclusion of a match occurring on any other day of the week.  For 7’s tournaments, reports should be submitted as quickly as possible and no later than prior to that match official starting their next assignment. 

This report is sent to the (TRU DC), who will assign the report to a trained Community Judicial Officer (CJO) that will oversee the disciplinary process for that offense. 

A player who is sent off for receiving a red card or two yellow cards in the same match is entitled to have a hearing as a matter of right.  That player is also suspended from any further play until the hearing can be held and a ruling is submitted by the TRU DC. 

Please note that the “Auto 8” suspension is a fiction and not actual policy.  If a player has received a red card they CANNOT play until you are able to secure a hearing and/or ruling with the discipline committee.

Scheduling a Hearing after Being Sent Off

The assigned CJO will contact the player or club to schedule a pre-hearing call and the actual hearing. Ideally, pre-hearing calls are held on Monday or Tuesday, with hearings on Wednesday. These hearings typically occur weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm CT, although scheduling flexibility may be required. For 7s tournaments, hearings may take place on-site to facilitate quick resolutions.

All communications and rulings will be sent to the player and their club using the club contact information provided on file with the TRU.  If your club’s contact information is out of date, please use this form to update it.

If a player or club has not been contacted by noon on Tuesday after a match, it is likely that the player’s or club’s contact information is not up to date, and we are not able to reach you, so please reach out to the TRU DC to schedule your hearing. If the TRU cannot contact the player, a ruling will typically be made within 1 day of the scheduled hearing.  

The Pre-Hearing Call

The pre-hearing call allows the player to familiarize themselves with the hearing process and confirm the hearing schedule. While the details of the foul play may come up, substantive discussions should be saved for the hearing itself. This call is also an opportunity for the player to ask questions regarding evidence submission, witnesses, or procedural concerns.

During the call, the player can choose between a single CJO hearing (quicker and simpler) or a full three-person panel (more thorough and deliberative). A single CJO typically includes just the player, a Judicial Officer, and relevant club officials. The three-person panel allows for a more in-depth review and consensus building.

Hearing Procedure

Before the hearing, the player will be sent the referee report and any other relevant evidence (e.g., video or statements). While players and clubs may present evidence during the hearing, it’s preferable to submit it beforehand not only to ensure a more efficient process, but also to ensure that mitigating factors can be fully considered.

Hearings for foul play consist of two parts: the red card test and sanctioning. First, the CJO/DC determines if the offense warranted a red card. The committee reviews the evidence, hears from the accused, and allows them to present arguments or exculpatory evidence.

If the red card is found to be unjustified, the hearing is over and the player is immediately eligible to play. However, if the offense meets the red card test, the committee proceeds to determine the appropriate sanction, following World Rugby’s guidelines, including considering mitigating (17.19) or aggravating factors (17.20). Admission of the red card may serve as mitigation and most red cards start as mid-range offenses unless determined otherwise.

The accused may be represented by counsel or other representative and the parties will be given the opportunity to present concluding remarks. Players should be prepared to discuss their disciplinary history, and clubs should provide their match schedules.

The CJO/DC will issue a ruling after deliberation, typically within 1 day, although it may take longer.  The rulings will be circulated to the player and their club, and a summary published to the TRU Disciplinary Reports.    

Team Citations for Undetected Foul Play

Teams or players may submit a citing if they believe that a red card-worthy foul play was missed by the referee. The Manual Disciplinary Report form must be filed within 48 hours of a match’s kickoff time, include a detailed description of the incident and match video. Failure to meet these requirements may result in dismissal of the citing.

For the match video, a link to unedited full match video with a specific time stamp of the incident is preferred.  If the full match is not available online, a video submission should include at least 1 minute prior to the incident and 1 minute after the incident and should not exceed three (3) minutes in total length, absent good reason.

If the citing is accepted, the case will proceed similarly to a red card offense. However, a player is not provisionally suspended unless a citing commissioner formally issues a citing complaint.

Misconduct

While Regulation 17 focus on foul play that occurs on the field of play, World Rugby Regulation 18 expands to include any conduct, behavior, statements and/or practices on or off the playing enclosure during or in connection with a match or otherwise, that is unsporting and/or cheating and/or insulting and/or unruly and/or ill-disciplined. Misconduct shall exclude foul play during a match which has already been the subject of consideration under Regulation 17. Regulation 18 offenses may be reported by not only the match official/referee, but also other coaches, players, citing commissioners, spectators, or other interested persons.  If you would like to submit an allegation of misconduct, you can do do with this Manual Disciplinary Report.

A player subject to an allegation of misconduct under Regulation 18 is NOT provisionally suspended.  Any potential sanction would become effective only after a decision is circulated after a hearing. 

Appeals

Disciplinary appeals provide a player, player representative, player’s club, the TRU, a tournament organizer, and World Rugby with the opportunity to challenge a decision made by the TRU Disciplinary Committee. An appeal must be lodged within 72 hours of receiving the decision, and must outline the grounds for the appeal.   

Proper grounds for an appeal may include errors in the application of the law, procedural unfairness, or disproportionate sanctions. Simply disagreeing with the outcome or a nominal deviation from this policy summary are NOT grounds for appeal.

Appeals should be sent to the TRU Disciplinary Committee with the TRU Board CCed.

Suspended Players who appeal shall remain under suspension in accordance with Regulation 17.27.3

The appeal will be heard by an independent appeals committee, which will review the case, consider new evidence if applicable, and either uphold, amend, or overturn the original decision. An appeal should, where reasonably practicable, be heard within 7 days after it is lodged. The appeals process ensures fairness and adherence to the principles of justice within rugby’s disciplinary framework.